Herein Is Love, Vol. 1: Genesis

Herein Is Love #1

by Nancy E. Ganz

This book is truly wonderful. It has captured parents and children with creative, gripping, and beautiful portrayals of what truly happened in the beginning. The beginning books of the Bible are essential to our understanding of God's redemptive story. The author of Herein Is Love creatively focuses our attention on the events that bring this story to life. The series has the richness of well-written literature and the depth of understanding inherent in a commentary. The result is a series of books whose details live and sing. They help parent and child understand the Christ-centered Word, and they are enjoyable reading for both. Your own faith will be strengthened while reading to your children, and your children will be encouraged, lesson by lesson, to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Reference

576 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2009

About the author

Nancy Ganz has spent the last twenty years in her native land of Canada, helping her husband, Dr. Richard Ganz, in church-planting work and home-schooling their four daughters. She received her formal theological training from the University of Toronto prior to her conversion to Christ at L'Abri in the Netherlands. However, it has been the many years of Bible study since that time which has produced her Herein is Love commentaries on the Old Testament. Currently, most of her time is spent studying the Scriptures, writing various books, and taking long walks along the country roads and woodland paths near her home.

Reviews

[Tracy]

Not sure why this is classified as a "children's commentary" because it knocked my socks off and left me both inspired and confounded. A great, great, smart read for family devotions. Ganz goes deep. She obviously understands what Jesus meant when He said, "and a child shall lead them" because this commentary is the smartest most respectful children's devotional I have ever laid hands on. She definitely took a page of Charles Spurgeon's/Charlotte Mason's book by not writing twaddle and dumbed down theology that's too emotive and downright dismissive of what a child can grasp.

[Sean-david · Rating 4 out of 5]

I walked through this with my family as we are going through the Pentateuch. Nancy Ganz has put together a beautiful work of commentaries, covering the entire Pentateuch. These come with wonderful craft ideas, field trips, and most importantly- a high view of scripture in the reformed tradition with careful exegesis and application. I would get this; whether you have children or no- most of us adults would be challenged and blessed by her thoughtful commentary.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book is “A Commentary for Children,” though I don’t think that’s an accurate categorization. It is not so much an explanation of Genesis as it is a retelling with musings by the author. Some of these musings are helpful connections (like contrasting the tower of Babel to Pentecost), some are a little bizarre (a diary of Noah) and I found some unnecessarily contentious (calling Charles Darwin “a great destroyer of the faith” and a “Philistine”).

My main hesitation in recommending this book is that the author does not often acknowledge that it is difficult to read about major destruction and judgment. Parts of those retellings seem gleeful. While concluding her summary the destruction of Sodom, the author writes “The destruction they received, they deserved. They were without excuse. Rejoice, for true and just and right are God’s judgments!” I certainly agree that God’s judgments are perfect, but I think that in speaking with and teaching children about it, it is important to be authentic and talk through the pain and sadness that is evident in these stories.

A publisher’s note lists the age range as 3 and up, but I think it would be much more appropriate (useful, understandable) for children in elementary school. Even some of the great connections the author makes – like calling Christ’s crucifixion our circumcision while retelling the story of Abraham - would probably confuse an elementary-aged reader since she does not define circumcision other than to say it is a sign of the covenant, and covenant is also not defined. I could see lifting some of the retellings to use with a class of children, or using a chapter at a time (which are called lessons) as a family devotion. However, I think it would be important to clarify what is the author’s opinion versus what is actually in the Bible as you have your family discussion.

An updated version with a teaching guide is much more usable than the edition without it. More explanations (like a child-friendly definition of circumcision) are given, as well as ideas for visual aids, memory work, crafts, review questions, prayers, psalms to sing, and a field trip. I like that the review questions focus on what the lesson teaches about God, and how the lesson helps us live our lives. The visual aids are always suggestions for use of real photographs, as the author believes that fictionalized pictures are often “visual harms” that get in the way of children understanding that the stories are real. I understand those concerns, but would hesitate before showing children pictures of famine or war just to get a point across. The field trip ideas are inventive and fun, but often impractical – like riding a camel. In a few places, I think the author places value on unimportant things. For example, this is her explanation on God resting on the Sabbath: “Most people now think of the week beginning on Monday (and some calendars even start there), but they are wrong. The first day of the week is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the New Covenant Sabbath.” Overall though, there are some helpful ideas you could glean from this for fun time as family or as a class.

[Katie Talbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used this in the morning for our homeschool's bible time. We would read the scripture chapter/verses directly from the bible, and then read the chapter from Nancy Ganz' book. I enjoyed her retelling, though it almost felt redundant as we had just read the passages from scripture - which did show how faithful to scripture Mrs Ganz stays.

There were a few theological differences that I share with the author, but they are minor and made for good conversations with my teens.

I appreciate that she doesn't shy away from the hard and awkward stories (something us homeschool mothers are known for doing, and we shouldn't!). You know, like Sodom and Gomorrah and then Lot and his daughters... She is tactful but direct.

Highly recommend this book series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary series for kids and their adults...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich, thorough, and illuminating commentary for children, teens, and adults alike. Even though Genesis is a book well-known to many, including myself, I gained a lot of insight through this commentary as I read it to my children. It can be a tad repetitive at times, so I occasionally edited out things on the fly. There's a plethora of supplemental information in the back for each chapter including activities, field trips, additional scripture, and more.

[Colleen Vukosich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was well written and it surely helped my younger children understand the Word if God better.

[Whitney Frasier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of our school curriculum this year. I really enjoyed having this book to go along with the Genesis chapter we were reading. A good resource to have with kids and even adults.

[Erica Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! It will bring the bible to life and make your children think about God's word. I marvel at the conversations we have around the kitchen table about the truth of God's word after reading this with them. I would recommend this book for children 2nd grade-High School. It is a fantastic read-aloud as a family for devotions.
"Bible commentaries for children? Yes, Bible commentaries for parents to read their children. This series of books provides what children need – solid growth, solid truths into which to grow. These commentaries are artfully written, and beautifully draw out the Old Testament narratives that are foundational for the Christian faith. I guarantee that your children will not want you to stop reading these books, and you will not want to stop either."
Ted Tripp (Pastor, conference speaker, author of the mega best-seller Shepherding a Child’s Heart)

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this in the mail today and I am excited about the way this comentary teaches children the Word of God and the Love of God. I am looking forward to digging into Genesis during our evening devos and tea time.

Ha. 4 years later... I received this in the mail again, this time coming from my parents in America. Again, I am enjoying it, and using it as I prepare to teach 4th grade Bible this year. Our second unit is Genesis.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful walk through the book of Genesis, not academic, and not like a novel based on Bible events. It is a re-telling of events, linking their truths with New Testament truths, always gently returning to the gospel and its implications. Suggested for families with children or teens for teaching time or family devotional time, as well as adults who want truth, but not in an academic format. It is easy to read without being dummed down.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a commentary for kids, I am continually surprised at Nancy Ganz's insights that I have never thought of before. If you're looking for a good book for family devotions, seriously consider this one. It also includes review questions, craft ideas, activities to involve your kids, and song suggestions. My kids (4 and 7) love this book!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. We used it as a devotional, and although you would think from the text and language that it was above the heads of younger kids, my littler ones listened and gained a lot from this book. It is gospel-centered and reveals to a young audience how God foretold the coming of Christ since the beginning.